:: View email as a web page :: There’s something about one century concluding and another beginning that makes artists feel extra ambitious. As the end of the ’90s loomed, it became de rigueur for forward-thinking indie and alternative rock bands to make their grand studio-obsessed masterpieces. It was a time when the very idea of rock music itself was in the process of being dismantled, so it could be put back together as an entirely new thing for an entirely new millennium. Take Modest Mouse, whose strange and staggering third album, The Moon & Antarctica, turns 20 this week. The Moon & Antarctica is a crucial pivot point not just for the band but for indie music overall. If Modest Mouse’s early albums helped to define the boilerplate sound of ’90s indie rock — chunky guitars, a loose and bombastic rhythm section, shout-y vocals, wry and often insightful lyrics — The Moon & Antarctica paved the way for what indie became in the 21st century. Read Uproxx’s tribute to the album here. -- Steven Hyden, Uproxx Cultural Critic and author of This Isn't Happening: Radiohead's "Kid A" And The Beginning Of The 21st Century OPENING TRACKS BRIGHT EYES Among the fun things planned for 2020 that have been screwed up by Covid-19, the forthcoming Bright Eyes comeback record must rank high on the list for indie fans. While the album will come out at some point, there’s still no release date. At least there are singles like “One And Done” to hold us over while we wait. LISTEN BEN GIBBARD GORDI On the bright side of Covid-19 — The Australian singer-songwriter how’s that for a tortured segue?— Sophie Payten, who performs as Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gordi, straddled the worlds of folk Gibbard has been hosting a and electronic music on her popular weekly livestream where acclaimed 2017 album, Reservoir. he plays covers and even an Now Payten is gearing up to occasional new song. On a recent release her sophomore record, Our broadcast he debuted “Proxima Two Skins, later this month on B,” which he has thankfully June 26. Her latest single, released in official form. “Unready,” builds to a stirring peak. LISTEN LISTEN DEEP CUTS 2ND GRADE FLORAL TATTOO The sorta supergroup culled from This Seattle emo band often veers Philadelphia’s thriving DIY scene into luminous, big-sounding specializes in very short and very shoegazer soundscapes, catchy power-pop songs that split specializing in the kind of “guitar- the difference between smartass tone porn” that made Title Fight’s punk and wised-up ’90s indie. records so irresistible. Floral Their winning new album Hit To Hit Tattoo’s second album, You Can lives up to the boastful title, Never Have A Long Enough Head stacking up a staggering number Start, is one of 2020’s cult hits, of hooks on 24 songs. though the album’s range suggests it could break out. LISTEN LISTEN VINYL OF THE WEEK JOY DIVISION — 'CLOSER' (40TH ANNIVERSARY BUNDLE) Released 40 years ago this summer, Joy Division's landmark LP Closer has received the remaster treatment. Now, Indie Mixtape subscribers can pre-order the limited edition remastered version of the album on 180-gram crystal clear vinyl along with three 12" singles ("Transmission," "Love Will Tear Us Apart," and "Atmosphere"), together for one discounted price. PICK IT UP THROWBACK 'THE HEADPHONE MASTERPIECE' by CODY CHESNUTT Few debut albums are as audacious as this 2002 record from singer- songwriter Cody Chesnutt, who set down 36 songs over two discs that melded classic ’70s-style soul with lo-fi indie rock. All these years later, there are still discoveries waiting to be made with this record. LISTEN LINER NOTES The Best Live Albums Of All Time, Ranked What are your favorite live albums? See how many of your choices ended up on this list of the 50 Greatest Live Albums of All Time, and let us know what we missed on Twitter. CHECK IT OUT This email was sent by: Warner Music Group 1633 Broadway New York, NY 10019 USA This email was sent to: [email protected] PRIVACY POLICY TERMS OF USE UNSUBSCRIBE.